Royal Australian Historical Society
An Australian historical society that promotes historical research, heritage preservation, public education, and the preservation of records and collections.
Last updated August 24, 2026
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Overview
The Royal Australian Historical Society (RAHS) is a voluntary historical organisation founded in Sydney in 1901. Originally established as the Australian Historical Society, it was created to encourage the study of Australian history and to collect and protect documentary and visual evidence relating to the country’s past. The society received the right to use the prefix “Royal” in 1918 and has since developed into one of Australia’s longest-established organisations devoted to historical scholarship, local history, archival preservation, and public heritage education. The RAHS serves members and researchers across Australia while maintaining a particularly strong connection with New South Wales and Sydney. Its work combines scholarly publishing, public programming, collecting, research support, and advocacy for the preservation of historic places and sources. Activities include lectures, seminars, workshops, exhibitions, historical walks, excursions, study visits, discussions, and an annual conference addressing issues in Australian local history and heritage. The organisation also supports the wider historical community through grant schemes administered on behalf of the New South Wales government, including programs connected with heritage work and the preparation and publication of local histories. The society operates a research library at History House in Sydney. The library’s holdings include books, manuscripts, newspapers, photographs, prints, and other textual and visual resources, with extensive coverage of the history of New South Wales. These materials reflect the RAHS’s original purpose: acquiring resources through purchase, donation, or other means and preserving them for historical study. The organisation also promotes the compilation of reliable records and the exchange of information among historians, members, community researchers, and heritage practitioners. Publishing has been central to the society since its first years. Its principal scholarly periodical is the Journal of the Royal Australian Historical Society (JRAHS), which traces its origins to the society’s early journal and proceedings. First material associated with the society’s journal was published in the early twentieth century, and the periodical is generally regarded as Australia’s oldest historical journal. The publication evolved from a quarterly journal carrying papers and proceedings into a substantial peer-reviewed academic journal featuring original research, reviews, illustrations, and historical analysis. Since 1992 it has appeared twice a year, and electronic access has been available through Informit since 2012. Earlier issues are also available online in scanned form, and the journal follows a Green Open Access policy. The RAHS also publishes History: Magazine of the Royal Australian Historical Society, a quarterly periodical intended for a broader membership and public audience. The magazine developed from a newsletter supplement that began in 1962 and adopted its modern magazine format and title in 1988. Together, the journal and magazine allow the society to address both specialist historical scholarship and accessible public history. The society is a constituent member of the Federation of Australian Historical Societies. It is funded through member contributions, benefactions, publishing, activities, and other support rather than through a conventional commercial brand model. Its enduring role is that of a membership-based cultural and scholarly institution: it connects researchers and communities, safeguards historical evidence, encourages informed discussion of Australia’s past, and contributes to the preservation and interpretation of Australian heritage.
History
The Royal Australian Historical Society originated in a public meeting held at Sydney Town Hall on 30 October 1900. Participants resolved that an Australian historical society should be formed to collect and preserve records, photographs, prints, books, and other evidence relating to Australia’s past. The inaugural meeting took place on 15 March 1901 and was attended by approximately ten people. Andrew Houison became the first president, while David Scott Mitchell, whose later bequest helped establish the Mitchell Library, served as the first patron. The organisation initially operated as the Australian Historical Society. Its membership and activities expanded over time, and in 1918 it received the right to use the prefix “Royal,” becoming the Royal Australian Historical Society. The change reflected the institution’s established public role and continuing contribution to historical study and preservation. A dedicated home, History House, opened at 8 Young Street, Sydney, in 1941. The premises were arranged during the presidency of Sir John Alexander Ferguson, a prominent bibliophile and historical figure. The building later accommodated Margaret Joan Woodhouse’s bookselling business from 1964. The business specialised in second-hand and antiquarian books, particularly works concerning Australia and the Pacific. The Young Street premises remained the society’s base until 1971, when the organisation moved to its present History House at 133 Macquarie Street. The bookselling operation also moved to Macquarie Street and continued there until 1983. The society’s Council included the historian A. G. L. Shaw during the 1950s and 1960s. Shaw edited the society’s journal from 1954 to 1964 and was the first professionally trained historian to hold that editorial role. His tenure preceded a major transformation of the publication. The journal’s earliest form developed from the society’s proceedings and papers. Although the organisation was encouraged to publish a journal soon after its foundation, the first volume was issued in March 1906, presenting material connected with the society’s work. Over subsequent volumes, the publication incorporated illustrations and gradually shifted from simply reproducing papers delivered to the society toward reporting excursions, discussions, enquiries, and other proceedings. From 1918 to 1964, the publication carried a title incorporating the society’s new Royal designation. In 1965, beginning with volume 51, it was renamed the Journal of the Royal Australian Historical Society. The journal became larger and more formally scholarly, eventually developing into a peer-reviewed biannual publication featuring original research articles, book reviews, images, and other historical material. Earlier issues are available as digitised scans, while electronic access to the journal has been provided through Informit since 2012. The journal also operates under a Green Open Access policy, allowing authors to deposit freely accessible electronic versions of their work. The RAHS’s second principal periodical is History: Magazine of the Royal Australian Historical Society. It grew out of a newsletter launched in March 1962 as a monthly supplement to the society’s journal and proceedings. In October 1988 it adopted a magazine format and its current title. The magazine provides a more accessible channel for members and general readers, complementing the specialist JRAHS. Beyond publishing, the society has maintained a broad program of lectures, discussions, workshops, exhibitions, walks, talks, excursions, and visits. It holds an annual conference addressing contemporary questions in local history and heritage. Its research library contains extensive textual and pictorial material, particularly concerning New South Wales, and supports both professional researchers and community historians. The society also administers grant schemes on behalf of the New South Wales government to encourage heritage activity and the writing and publication of local histories. Today the RAHS remains a voluntary, membership-supported organisation with members throughout Australia. Contributions from members and benefactors help fund its facilities and activities. As a constituent member of the Federation of Australian Historical Societies, it occupies a national position within Australia’s historical-society network while retaining its institutional base and strongest collections in Sydney. Its continuing mission is to promote the study of Australian history, preserve heritage and historical records, maintain a research library, and enable the exchange of knowledge through publications and public programs.
- 2012
Electronic journal access begins through Informit
[1]The JRAHS became available as an electronic resource through Informit.
- 1992
JRAHS publication frequency changes
[1]The journal changed from quarterly publication to a biannual schedule.
- 1988
History magazine adopts current format and title
[1]The society’s newsletter-derived publication became a magazine titled History: Magazine of the Royal Australian Historical Society.
- 1971
Move to current History House
[1]The RAHS moved to 133 Macquarie Street, Sydney, where its History House remains based.
- 1965
Journal renamed and expanded
[1]The journal adopted the title Journal of the Royal Australian Historical Society and underwent a major expansion in size and editorial scope.
- 1962
Newsletter supplement begins
[1]A newsletter began as a monthly supplement to the journal and proceedings, later developing into the society’s History magazine.
- 1941
First History House opens
[1]The society established its first dedicated premises at 8 Young Street, Sydney.
- 1918
Royal designation adopted
[1]The society was granted the right to use the prefix “Royal.”
- 1906
First journal volume published
[1]The society issued the first volume of its journal and proceedings, establishing a publication tradition that later became the JRAHS.
- 1901
Australian Historical Society founded
[1]The inaugural meeting was held in Sydney on 15 March. Andrew Houison became the first president and David Scott Mitchell the first patron.
Products and positioning
A membership-based Australian historical and heritage institution combining scholarly publishing, archival preservation, public education, local-history support, and heritage advocacy.
Academic journal · 1906
Journal of the Royal Australian Historical Society
The society’s principal scholarly publication and the successor to its early journal and proceedings. It publishes peer-reviewed, original research on Australian history, along with book reviews, illustrations, and related historical material. The journal has appeared under several titles since the early twentieth century, adopted its current name in 1965, and has been published biannually since 1992. Earlier issues are available in scanned form, and electronic access is available through Informit.
History magazine · 1988
History: Magazine of the Royal Australian Historical Society
A quarterly magazine aimed at the society’s membership and a broader public-history audience. It developed from a newsletter supplement introduced in 1962 and adopted its magazine format and current name in 1988. The publication provides accessible historical writing and society-related content alongside the more specialised JRAHS.
Research library and collection
History House research library
A research facility at the society’s Sydney headquarters containing books, manuscripts, newspapers, prints, photographs, and other historical resources. The collection has particular depth in the history of New South Wales and supports researchers, local historians, members, and heritage practitioners.
Public education and heritage services
Historical education and heritage programs
The RAHS offers lectures, workshops, discussions, exhibitions, historical walks, excursions, visits, and an annual conference. These programs promote research, public understanding, exchange of information, and engagement with Australian history and heritage.
Brand decisions
1992
Change the journal from quarterly to biannual publicationStrategyBackground
The journal had been published quarterly for many years, but the society later changed its publication schedule.
Action taken
The JRAHS moved to a biannual publishing cycle.
Aftermath
The biannual schedule remains part of the journal’s current publication model.
1965
Recast the society’s journal as a modern scholarly publicationStrategyBackground
The earlier journal had primarily carried papers and proceedings connected with society activities. By the mid-1960s, the organisation was seeking a larger and more formally scholarly publication.
Action taken
The journal was renamed Journal of the Royal Australian Historical Society, expanded substantially, and given a broader editorial direction.
Aftermath
The change established the JRAHS as the society’s principal academic periodical and strengthened its role in Australian historical scholarship.
- Temporarily provide selected publications online during the COVID-19 pandemicStrategy
Background
The pandemic disrupted normal public access and in-person activities in Australia.
Action taken
The June editions of the society’s journal and magazine were made temporarily available online to the general public.
Aftermath
The measure broadened temporary public access to the society’s publications during the pandemic.
Recent events
- 1971
The society moves to 133 Macquarie Street[1]
Other
The RAHS relocated from Young Street to its current History House at 133 Macquarie Street, Sydney.
- 1965
Journal becomes the Journal of the Royal Australian Historical Society[1]
Product generation · Other
The society substantially expanded and reoriented its journal, adopting the title Journal of the Royal Australian Historical Society and increasing its scholarly scope and size.
- 1941
History House opens in Young Street[1]
Other
The society established its first History House premises at 8 Young Street in Sydney, providing a dedicated institutional home.
- 1918
Royal prefix granted to the Australian Historical Society[1]
Other
The organisation received permission to adopt the prefix “Royal” and became known as the Royal Australian Historical Society.
RAHS publications temporarily opened to the public during the COVID-19 pandemic[1]
Other
During the Australian COVID-19 pandemic, the June editions of the society’s journal and magazine were made temporarily available online to the general public.
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